The election is tomorrow. Erin O'Toole has replaced his public appearances with a little film. He ordered his candidates to go into hiding a few days ago. This says a few things to me... 1/8 #elxn44vote#Elxn44
1) He doesn't trust any of his candidates to not say something that will screw everything up even worse. Does a party that has been upfront with Canadians need to keep their candidates from speaking? 2/8
2) O'Toole is plenty ruffled himself. That last press conference in the curling rink where he had to hang onto the podium to keep himself from running out of the room? Yowza. This does not particularly inspire confidence. 3/8
3) There are calls now for a national inquiry into the collusion between the UCP and the CPC regarding withholding appropriate COVID measures from Albertans to benefit the CPC federally. O'Toole is probably not the only conservative in a cold sweat. 4/8
4) According to rumour, the knives are out for Jason Kenney at the provincial level. He is also laying low, except to speak to his dwindling devoted fanbase on Facebook, with his comfort Stampede pennant. 5/8
5) Many votes are already in via advance polls & mail-in ballots. The polls still show a dead heat between the CPC & Liberals. People who vote tomorrow will be the only ones voting knowing that the CPC may have conspired to let people die to advance their electoral chances. 6/8
6) The CPC is hoping against hope that enough of their supporters voted before everything hit the fan. Because, seriously? Who could vote for a party that would let their most ardent supporters potentially die for their own gain? 7/8
A question for someone with in-depth knowledge of the legalities of this: What would the Canadian government have to do to repatriate our news media? Could they buy back Postmedia from the US hedge-fund? Can they pass laws to ensure Canadian ownership of our news? 1/23
Other countries have strict limits on who can "own" the news their citizens ingest. We used to, until Harper allowed American interests to buy up controlling shares in most of our daily newspapers. How do we reclaim our news sovereignty? 2/23 mediareform.org.uk/wp-content/upl…
There are extremely good reasons why a country would restrict control of the media. We have rules around foreign influence in elections because we don't want our democratic process being influenced to benefit a foreign power. But who has more influence than the news? 3/23
@charlesadler I know you are a conservative from way back. I also know that the current brand of conservative has shaken your faith in the ideology, or those promoting it. So, tell us, what do you make of a federal conservative party that orders provincial parties to hide and 1/8
Not respond as COVID rates soar out of control? At least, until the election. Because they thought they would win the election, & then no one can touch them for 4 years, and by then all the dead will be forgotten, right? But, somehow the word of what they were doing got out. 2/8
And now the CPC are on the run. So are some provincial conservative parties, most notably the UCP. In one fell swoop these people have been revealed as monsters, who would let people, their own supporters, die to gain seats. 3/8
OK. Alberta, Listen up! I know that no one anticipated this when Kenney and his merry band of outlaws was elected. But here we are. This is shitty, shitty governing. 1/10
This is window dressing that does nothing to keep anyone safe. Anyone can make themselves a card and go out and get into all the public places where you are supposed to feel a modicum of safety, but it is not real. 2/10
This is an insult. Kenney came out of hiding because the rising COVID numbers were out of control and he did...something. He incurred the wrath of the CPC, probably losing the election for them, and for what? 3/10
Warren Kinsella (who I won't @ because he blocked me years ago) published his thoughts on how misguided and deluded Canadian women are and why we should listen to him and doubt our own instincts and beliefs.
1/23
In light of this, I was asked to "re-print" something I wrote prior to the 2019 election. So, here we go, updated for 2021: 2/23
Seriously, right-wing dudes. You have to stop this. It is insulting to Canadian women that you imply we vote progressive because Justin Trudeau has nice hair. Or wears cool socks. 3/23
Red tape reduction is taking away rules that force employers to keep their workers safe.
Red tape reduction is taking away rules that make sure our food & beverages are properly inspected.
Red tape reduction is taking away safety rules on consumer products like baby seats. 2/7
Red tape reduction is taking away rules that protect our environment for future generations.
Red tape reduction is taking away rules that stop companies from price-gouging, forming monopolies, engaging in usurious practices, and exploiting workers and consumers. 3/7
#Elxn44 Once upon a time, I was walking at night with the man who is now my husband. Suddenly he grabs my arm and shoves me behind him. "Rude much?" was basically my first thought. Then I saw the guy across the street waving a gun around. And I knew this man was a keeper. 1/12
There was no one else around and it was a dark street in an unsavory part of Montreal. The guy was tweaking on something and, although he pointed the gun at us, shouted at us, he was in his own headspace and eventually shuffled off, shouting at things we couldn't see. 2/12
But the fact that this man, my man, put himself between me and the gun, profoundly impressed me. Don't get me wrong. I would have done the same for him, had I seen the guy first. Except he's a foot taller than me so I am not a very effective shield. 3/12